Glamour: What is one beauty or skin-care trend that you’re obsessed with right now?

Quinta Brunson: I really enjoy doing lymphatic massages on my face. They feel good. I actually do see a difference right away, especially if my face is a little puffy. It’s become a weird little guilty pleasure time, to go on YouTube and find new tutorials and do it. Even though they’re all doing the same thing. [Laughs.]

Do you use a gua sha stone or a face roller?

Sometimes I use the gua sha stone; sometimes I use the rollers. Sometimes I use just my hands, which I’m the biggest fan of because then I’ll just do it in the shower with a nice light oil. 

Is there a beauty rule that you think is B.S.? 

That beauty products have to cost a ton of money. You were being told that if it wasn’t over $50, it’s not working. And while I think maybe there’s some validity to that with some products, I just don’t think that’s true with things like moisturizers. I recently got into retinol, and when I was searching around, some of them were so expensive, but Olay actually has a nighttime beauty line that’s retinol 24 plus peptide and it works. You can get that at the drugstore, and it’s not breaking the bank. I don’t have to pay for all these different products to come work together and maybe irritate my face. This is one line that does work, is simple, and is accessible to most people. I wake up with my skin feeling so soft and hydrated. That’s all I’m really looking for. I don’t need it to work a miracle. I just need it to feel good.

What’s the best beauty advice your mom taught you?

My mom always was like, “You have to wash your face at night. You have to wash your face no matter what.” And that has stuck with me. I don’t care if I am going to bed at 4 a.m., I need to get a washcloth and make sure my face is clean every single night without fail. You cannot go to sleep with that clogging your pores. People don’t realize how much makeup can clog your skin or how many pollutants are out there. 

Fill in the blank. I love my hair when…

I love my hair when it is wet because I think it looks really cute. That’s it. I can’t walk around with it like that because it’s just drenched and truly would just be sopping wet because my hair retains water. I wish I could be one of those people who just goes outside and my hair dries in an hour. My hair will stay wet for an entire day and I can’t walk around like that. I’ll catch a cold or something.

Is there a city or country that gives you the greatest beauty inspiration?

New York. There’s so many different people walking around with so many different styles, just being themselves. I think that’s so beautiful. I can’t say the same for L.A. I think L.A. people all have a look, and especially over the past 10 years, everybody kind of fell into looking the same. But New York, every time I go there, I’m so inspired by everybody’s style on the street and everyone looks so beautiful to me. I feel more beautiful in New York. I love walking around there.